How to Anticipate an Earthquake

Despite modern technology, there is no way to predict an earthquake. However, scientists do know how to determine where an earthquake will most likely occur. Follow these steps to discover how they do it.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Understand that shaking occurs when tectonic plates move. Each day there is a chance that an earthquake will occur somewhere. Typically, earthquakes happen in remote locales and cause little or no damage.
2. Realize that believing earthquake myths is common. Even in this century, Chinese villagers claimed that prior to an earthquake birds seemed disoriented, cell-phone reception failed and a dry river suddenly had a spring of water. Scientist do not believe these events are reliable predictors of earthquakes, so don't panic next time your cell phone drops a call.
3. Use the facts of earthquake probability, instead of the mythology of earthquake prediction. Studying past earthquake occurrences can help predict future ones.
4. Realize that no place on earth is safe from an earthquake, but not all earthquakes are destructive. Currently, scientists believe that the "Ring of Fire" in the Pacific Rim is the most probable place for an earthquake to occur.
5. Follow the advice of the American Red Cross when an earthquake occurs. Drop,cover and hold under a table or desk.